Waikato Police are hoping anyone offered a 400-year-old bell, stolen from an Otorohanga church, will do the right thing and contact authorities.
Constable Brian Higgins of the Otorohanga Police said the bell, which weighs 150kg, was stolen from the St Brides Anglican Church on Haerehuka St sometime between Sunday and Tuesday.
"The bell is called the 'Pembroke Bell' after HMS Pembroke, the ship it was mounted on when built in 1694.
"When it arrived here in 1960 it took two men to carry so whoever took it went to some effort, replacement cost of the bell is conservatively put at $5000 however in terms of significance it is irreplaceable."
Mr Higgins said he hoped a picture of the bell would be distributed as wide as possible by media so anyone approached by the thieves trying to sell it for scrap knows of its significance and contacts Police.
"It was last seen at the church during the 10am service on Sunday 12 June and it was noticed missing about 7am Tuesday, there were large indentations in the ground where it had been lowered.
"Obviously given the historic significance of the bell and its value to the wider Otorohanga community we e very keen for information leading to its recovery."
Anyone with information on the identities of the persons involved, the bell's whereabouts or anyone approached about buying it is asked to contact Mr Higgins at the Otorohanga Police Station on 07 8737399.
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Note to media; The contact person at the church is Reverend Christine Scott, phone 873 7006.